• First New Game Boy Advance Game in 13 Years Smashes Kickstarter Campaign

    Goodboy Galaxy, an upcoming game for Game Boy Advance, Switch, and PC, has smashed its Kickstarter goal. Yes — you read that right — it's 2021, and a brand new game is coming to the 20-year-old GBA.

    With about a month to go, Goodboy Galaxy has blazed past its initial goal of $25,000, and raised over $100,000 with the support of more than 1,500 backers. The game has also met all of its stretch goals, which include a physical Switch release, co-op missions on Switch and PC, a GBA-exclusive chapter, and more.

    Goodboy Galaxy is an upcoming 2D exploration-based platformer. The developers describe it as, "kind of like Cave Story, or a cuter Metroid." It stars a dog astronaut named Maxwell (the titular "Goodboy"), as he explores the galaxy. The game was created by two friends who have a deep love for the Game Boy Advance.

    The game isn't projected to launch until 2023, but the launch plans include a physical GBA version with the game cartridge, box, and manual that will fit right in with your Game Boy Advance collection.

    Right now, there's a demo available that you can download, or try directly from your web browser. To avoid spoilers, the content in the demo will not be a part of the main game. You can check out the demo and all of the backer tiers on the official Goodboy Galaxy Kickstarter page.

    In addition to this Kickstarter project, the GBA era is experiencing a renaissance of sorts. WarioWare, which got its start on GBA, has a new Switch entry coming out in September with WarioWare: Get It Together. And, tactics fans can look forward to the remake of Advance Wars 1+2, which is coming to Switch this December.

    For more, check out IGN's list of the best Game Boy Advance games of all time.

    Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

    Posted in Games, video game | Tagged , | Comments Off on First New Game Boy Advance Game in 13 Years Smashes Kickstarter Campaign

    Disney’s Jungle Cruise Sequel Confirmed

    A Jungle Cruise sequel is confirmed to be in development just as the newest Disneyland ride-turned-movie crosses $100 million at the box office.

    The Hollywood Reporter says Disney is moving forward on another Jungle Cruise movie with stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt reprising their roles as Frank Wolff and Dr. Lily Houghton respectively.

    In fact, much of the same crew is expected to return for the sequel including director Jaume Collet-Serra and co-writer Michael Green.

    Jungle Cruise is an adventure film based on a ride of the same name found at several Disney theme parks. The premise of the ride is that park-goers get on a ship as they’re navigated through a jungle while guided by a skipper who shares fun facts about the locale.

    Disney recently made some changes to the Jungle Cruise rides over outdated, and in some cases, racist references.

    The film adaptation takes the core premise of a cruise navigating the Amazon river but wraps it in a classic, pulp adventure story.

    Jungle Cruise was released simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+ Premiere Access and though it was a slow build, Jungle Cruise eventually proved to be a box office hit. Meanwhile, Disney is currently engaged in a lawsuit with actress Scarlett Johansson over a pay dispute resulting from Black Widow’s similar hybrid release.

    IGN praised Jungle Cruise as a “joyous summer romp rooted on by a fun script and some completely captivating chemistry” between Johnson and Blunt.

    Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

    Posted in Games, video game | Tagged , | Comments Off on Disney’s Jungle Cruise Sequel Confirmed

    Every Video Game Adaptation Coming to Netflix – State of Streaming 3.0

    There are more streaming networks than ever before, so if you have questions about the future of streaming, then you've come to the right place. All week long, IGN's State of Streaming 3.0 initiative is featuring reviews and in-depth analysis about current streaming providers like Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and more!

    While it still offers an extensive library of full seasons of network shows and classic films, Netflix’s biggest weapon in the streaming wars has been its original content. Netflix is spending $17 billion on original shows and movies that you won’t be able to see without paying them $8.99 to $17.99 a month, while also scooping up exclusive licenses to plenty of media made outside the U.S. These productions run the gamut from soap operas to documentaries, but one area the streaming giant has been seriously investing in is video game adaptations.

    That’s no surprise, as Netflix’s rivals are also hoping that games will become the new comic books, providing a built-in devoted audience who will tune in to see their favorite characters brought to life in a new way. HBO is spending a ton of money on its adaptation of The Last of Us and the creators of Westworld are working on a Fallout show for Amazon. But Netflix is showing its power as the first major streaming service by staying ahead of the trend by producing an enormous slate of video game adaptations.

    Netflix has already earned huge success with its adaptation of The Witcher, which draws inspiration from both Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels and the CD Projekt Red video game series. The streaming service has also supplemented its extensive selection of anime with animated adaptations of Castlevania and Resident Evil. Video game projects in various stages of production at the streamer include a movie releasing this month, various series, and titles that haven’t even been named yet (and could be stuck in development hell). Here’s everything we know about the many video game adaptations coming to Netflix.

    Pokémon Master Journeys: The Series

    Release Date: Sept. 10, 2021

    While this isn’t actually a Netflix original, the continuation of the Pokemon Journeys anime will be exclusively available on Netflix in the U.S. The show will follow Ash as he fights through the World Coronation Series accompanied by Goh, who is on a quest to catch one of every Pokemon.

    The Witcher: Season 2

    Release Date: Dec. 17, 2021

    Henry Cavill’s Geralt found his destiny in Princess Cirilla at the end of Season 1, and this season will show her training among the other witchers of Kaer Morhen while also learning to harness her powerful magical abilities. The story transitions between Sapkowski’s short story collection The Last Wish and his first Witcher novel Blood of Elves, starting with an adaptation of the tale “A Grain of Truth,” which is a riff on Beauty and the Beast.

    Angry Birds: Summer Madness

    Release Date: TBA 2021

    Building on the success of the 2016 and 2019 films based on the popular mobile game, Netflix announced in 2020 that it was working on an Angry Birds animated series. The family-friendly show will follow teenage versions of Red, Chuck, Bomb, and Stella and their adventures at Camp Splinterwood in what sounds like Angry Birds meets Wet Hot American Summer.

    Arcane

    Released Date: Fall 2021

    The limited-run series based on League of Legends will be Riot Games’ first TV adaptation. It will share the origin stories of sisters Vi and Jinx, two champions from the game, with the action alternating between the oppressed underground of Zaun and the utopian Piltover.

    Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

    Released Date: 2022

    Building on the partnership with CD Projekt Red that led to The Witcher adaptations, Netflix announced in June 2020 that it will release an anime set in the universe of Cyberpunk 2077. Rather than following the game’s plot, the 10-episode limited series will focus on a street kid turned mercenary. Kill la Kill’s Hiroyuki Imaishi will direct the series with Studio Trigger providing the animation and Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka writing the score.

    Sonic Prime

    Released Date: 2022

    Sonic the Hedgehog will be going on an epic adventure through the multiverse in this 24-episode animated series. The Blue Blur will also be on a journey of “self-discovery and redemption,” according to Netflix. Man of Action Entertainment will helm the project. It’s unclear whether the show will be released before Sonic the Hedgehog 2, which will star Idris Elba as Sonic’s frenemy Knuckles.

    Assassin’s Creed

    Release Date: TBD

    Netflix and Ubisoft announced in October that they had inked a deal to develop a genre-bending live-action adaptation of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, which will reportedly be written by Jeb Stuart. Like it has with The Witcher, Netflix will be using Assassin's Creed as the basis for multiple projects that will be both live action and animated.

    Beyond Good & Evil

    Release Date: TBD

    Detective Pikachu director Rob Letterman is working on a film adaptation of Ubisoft’s adventure game that will blend live action with animation. There hasn’t been any news about the project since it was announced in July 2020, so it’s still unclear who the writers will be and how closely the plot will follow the game about an investigative journalist in the year 2435 working with an underground resistance movement on a remote mining planet.

    Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix

    Release Date: TBD

    Netflix announced this anime adaptation of Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon in June. The six-episode project will be helmed by Castlevania’s Adi Shankar, animated by Bobbypills, and directed by Mehdi Leffad. Netflix also used the announcement to share that a second Far Cry anime will also come to the streaming service, but it’s unclear what game it will be based on.

    Expanded Castlevania Universe

    Release Date: TBD

    The current Castlevania series ended its four-season run in May, but before that Netflix announced that it would be streaming a new series set in the same universe but focusing on different characters.

    The Cuphead Show!

    Release Date: TBD

    Wayne Brady plays King Dice, the main antagonist of the animated series that follows the adventures of the impulsive Cuphead and his cautious brother Mugman. While it will share the 1930s animation style of the 2017 game, the show will have an original character-driven comedic story.

    Devil May Cry

    Release Date: TBD

    Shankar is developing an anime based on the Capcom game for his Bootleg Multiverse. This project shouldn’t be confused with the 2007 Japanese show Devil May Cry: The Animated Series.

    The Division

    Release Date: TBD

    Rawson Marshall Thurber will direct The Division film starring Jake Gyllenhall and Jessica Chastain, with Ellen Shanman writing the adaptation. Thurber replaced original director David Leitch, who stepped down due to scheduling conflicts. Like the Ubisoft game it’s based on, the movie follows a group of civilians trying to save what remains of New York’s population after a devastating virus spreads through the city through money spent on Black Friday. This promises to be a pretty messed up Christmas movie.

    DOTA: Dragon’s Blood – Season 2

    Release Date: TBD

    The first season of the animated show based on the MOBA was released in March and Netflix confirmed in April that a second season is coming.

    Dragon’s Lair

    Release Date: TBD

    In March 2020, Ryan Reynolds was reported to be in talks to play the heroic knight Dirk the Daring in a live-action adaptation of the 1983 arcade game, but there haven’t been any updates since.

    Pokemon

    Release Date: TBD

    Lucifer co-showrunner Joe Henderson will write and executive produce a live-action adaptation of Pokemon that aims to build on the success of Detective Pikachu. The series is in early development, with no plot or cast announcements to date.

    Resident Evil

    Release Date: TBD

    Lance Reddick will play the mad scientist Albert Wesker in a live-action series set nearly three decades after the release of the T-virus. The show is currently in production and other cast members include Ella Balinska, Tamara Smart, Siena Agudong, Adeline Rudolph, and Paola Núñez.

    Splinter Cell

    Release Date: TBD

    John Wick creator Derek Kolstad will be writing the animated series based on the Ubisoft franchise. Kolstad said each season will be self-contained aside from developing the hero — who will presumably be black ops agent Sam Fisher — and that he’s drawing inspiration from Westerns.

    Tomb Raider

    Release Date: TBD

    Tasha Huo will write and executive produce the anime series set after the events of Crystal Dynamics’ recent game trilogy. Legendary Entertainment, which worked with Netflix on the Lost in Space remake, and Sonic the Hedgehog film producers dj2 Entertainment will also be part of the project.

    The Witcher: Blood Origin

    Release Date: TBD

    The Witcher and Iron Fist writer Declan De Barra will serve as showrunner for this live-action, limited series set 1,200 years before the events of the main show. The story follows the creation of the first Witcher and the cataclysmic events that brought the worlds of elves, humans, and monsters together. Sarah O’Gorman and Vicky Jewson each direct half of the six-episode series which stars Michelle Yeoh, Sophia Brown, and Laurence O’Fuarain.

    What Netflix video game adaptations are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments section!

    Posted in Games, video game | Tagged , | Comments Off on Every Video Game Adaptation Coming to Netflix – State of Streaming 3.0

    Daily Deals: WD Black SN850 1TB SSD: The Best PS5 Console Storage Upgrade Option Is Back in Stock (and More Deals)

    If you're looking to upgrade your PS5 console's internal storage, then you're in luck. The WD SN850 M.2 SSD complete with a low-profile heatsink is back in stock from Western Digital direct. It's the most recommended SSD option for the PS5, but it has also been sold out everywhere for a while. It's currently back in stock at Western Digital, but probably only for a short while. In other deal news, save on the lightest wireless mouse that Logitech sells, the newest Forza Limited Edition Xbox controller, the latest generation Apple iPad Air, and powerful Lenovo gaming laptops during the Intel Gamer Days Sale event.

    Back in Stock (Including 1TB Model): WD Black SN850 M.2 SSD with Heatsink

    The Western Digital official storefront has all models of the SN850 SSD with heatsink in stock right now, and that includes the extremely hard to find 1TB model. This is currently the most popular (and probably the best) SSD to get for your PS5 storage upgrade. It's blazing fast drive with transfer speeds rated at up to 7,000 MB/s and a PCIe Gen4 interface and it comes preinstalled with a heatsink. It's also confirmed by Western Digital themselves to be compatible with the PS5.

    Dell XPS Intel Core i7 RTX 3060 Ti PC for $1499

    True high end gaming on a budget. There is one of the best deals we've seen for an RTX 3060 Ti equipped PC. The RTX 3060 Ti is a very powerful video card; it's better than the previous generation's RTX 2080! It's a big upgrade from the 3060 non-Ti model and the one to get if you're going to play games at resolutions of 1440p or higher.

    Forza 5 Limited Edition Xbox Controller

    This wicked looking Xbox controller went up for preorder last week for $74.99. Today, it's on sale on Amazon for $69. This is one of the best new Xbox controllers out on the market. There's much attention to detail in this controller, like the transparent yellow finish with candy colored splatter, custom-colored, visible rumble motor and lighting effects, color shifting hybrid D-pad, asymmetrical thumbsticks in different bold colors, and textured controller grips.

    Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller

    This is the controller to get if you want the most precise and customizable Xbox controller on the market. This professional-grade controller features adjustable tension thumbsticks, shorter hair trigger locks, wraparound textured grips, interchangeable thumbsticks and paddle shapes, custom profiles saved on your controller itself, and included USB Type C cable with charging dock. It boasts up to 40 hours of battery life and is compatible with the Xbox Series S|X, Xbox One, and PC.

    Logitech G Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse (Lightest Logitech Wireless Mouse)

    This is the mouse I currently use for gaming and I highly recommend it. Wireless mice usually weigh more than wired mice because of the battery. The G Pro Wireless bucks that trend by being far and away the lightest wireless mouse that Logitech sells at only 2.8 ounces. As a comparison, the wireless MX Master 3 weighs 5 ounces, the wireless G503 weighs 6 ounces, even the popular wired G502 Hero weighs 4.2 ounces without any of its adjustable weights.

    Razer Core X eGPU Enclosure

    If your laptop has a Thunderbolt 3 port, you can supercharge its gaming capabilities by adding this external GPU enclosure. No video card is included, so you can add your own. Desktop video cards are far more powerful than their mobile variants; stick an RTX 2060 in here and it will be faster than any gaming laptop on the market. It's normally $400, but today there's a hefty 30% off discount that drops it down to only $280.

    $2,100 Off Lenovo ThinkPad 15" 4K RTX 3080 Laptop

    Lenovo ThinkPad laptops are known for their best-in-class ruggedness and reliability, and even if it ever breaks down, Lenovo offers the best customer service in the business. Usually, that level of build quality and support usually comes at a steep price. Add an RTX 30 series video card to the mix and you'd expect a cost that most people would balk at. Take this laptop for example. It's retail price is nearly $5,000. However, there is a coupon today that drops the price way down to under $2900. If you're looking to purchase a ThinkPad that's got the power to do some serious gaming, you won't find a price like this anytime soon.

    Lenovo Intel Gamer Days Sale: Save on Legion Gaming Laptops and Desktop PCs

    Lenovo's "Legion" series of gaming PCs and laptops offer the latest and greatest gaming performance at a very reasonable cost. They're equipped with the newest RTX 30 series video cards, which offer huge speed gains compared to the previous generation's RTX 20 series cards, along with new technology like DLSS 2.0 (very useful) and ray tracing (not as much). Alongside these new GPUs are your choice of either AMD's Ryzen 5000 series or Intel's Rocket Lake/Tiger Lake processors. Lenovo also offers one of the best customer service experiences compared to other prebuilt PC makers, which is especially important if you haven't built the PC yourself. Lenovo's sale events can be hard to navigate, so we've conveniently rounded up a list of the best Legion deals going on right now.

    Gigabyte Aero 4K OLED RTX 3060 Gaming Laptop

    An RTX 3060 laptop for $1299 is already a pretty solid deal. Gigabyte goes one step further by adding in a gorgeous 4K AMOLED display. These powerful 15" laptops weigh only 4.4lbs and are paired with the newest 11th gen Intel Core i7 processors and plenty of RAM and SSD storage. The video card is rated at 105W TGP. There's a similar deal available at Newegg for $50 less, but you'd have to apply for a mail-in rebate and you get less SSD storage.

    $100 Off the Newest Apple iPad Air

    The 4th generation Apple iPad Air released in 2020 is still the newest model out. It's one of the most powerful tablets on the market and considerably less expensive than an iPad Pro. Thanks to its slim bezels, it has a larger screen size (10.9" vs 10.2") compared to the iPad without noticeably increasing the overall footprint. The iPad Air's display also boasts better image quality, thanks to Tru Tone and P3 Wide Color (gamut). It connects via USB Type-C cable, which is much more convenient than the proprietary Lightning cable.

    New Release: Oculus Quest 2 VR Headset with More Storage, Same Price

    The Oculus Quest 2 has so far been the best value when it comes to VR gaming. It's hundreds of dollars cheaper than its competitors, it has phenomenal tracking, it doesn't need to be tethered to a PC, and it boasts a huge library of games (even Half Life: Alyx is easily playable on the Quest 2). It's also the best VR headset for Beat Saber. Now, Oculus has re-released its Oculus Quest 2 VR headset with double the storage (128GB vs 64GB) for the exact same price. There's even less of a reason now to pick something else.

    Amazon Prime Student Members Get 3 Months of Free Audible Premium Plus

    If you're an Amazon Prime Student member, you get a lot of pretty amazing perks like 6 months of free Amazon Prime membership followed by 50% off your Prime membership for up to 4 years, Amazon Music Unlimited for $0.99/mo, and more. Now, there's yet another perk exclusive to Amazon Prime Student members; get 3 free months of Audible Premium Plus (normally $14.95/mo). If you're a current student or faculty, you're eligible for an Amazon Prime Student membership.

    Video Game Deals

    More Daily Deals for August 31

    Posted in Games, video game | Tagged , | Comments Off on Daily Deals: WD Black SN850 1TB SSD: The Best PS5 Console Storage Upgrade Option Is Back in Stock (and More Deals)

    Streamer DrLupo Announces Deal To Stream Exclusively on YouTube Gaming

    Professional streamer Ben Lupo, known as DrLupo, announced he will begin live streaming exclusively on YouTube Gaming. His first YouTube livestream will take place tomorrow, August 31.

    Twitch tweeted following DrLupo's announcement, wishing him all the best as he moves on from the platform.

    On Twitch, DrLupo has 4.5 million followers. He's gained popularity streaming games including Fortnite, Destiny, Escape from Tarkov, and more. He also famously streamed with Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat, in what was dubbed as a "Battle for Global Supremacy." DrLupo is also known for his charity streams, which have raised millions of dollars for St. Jude.

    He's moving over to YouTube, where he currently has about 1.7 million followers. DrLupo says the move to YouTube will allow him to expand his philanthropic efforts, saying, "through this partnership, YouTube will help me as I expand my brand through other entertainment initiatives. I am excited to bring my fans on this journey with me."

    DrLupo is not the first big streamer to move from Twitch to YouTube Gaming. Jack “CouRage” Dunlop made the move back in 2019. Ninja also left Twitch in favor of Mixer in 2019. But after Microsoft shut Mixer down, he moved over to YouTube for a brief stint before returning to Twitch late last year.

    All of this is part of a broader effort by the biggest streaming platforms to lock down talent as exclusives, similar to how various streaming services boast exclusive shows and movies.

    For more, read about how 2020 was YouTube's biggest year ever in terms of video games, with over 100 billion hours spent watching gaming content on the platform.

    Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

    (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)

    Posted in Games, video game | Tagged , | Comments Off on Streamer DrLupo Announces Deal To Stream Exclusively on YouTube Gaming